Roman Reigns withdraws WWE Draft eligibility

Roman Reigns will not be returning to WWE action "in the immediate future."

Via his manager Paul Heyman, Reigns announced on Friday's WWE SmackDown episode that he has withdrawn his eligibility for the 2024 WWE Draft, and will not be returning to the ring any time soon. 

Heyman made the announcement on Reigns' behalf in a backstage interview with Kayla Braxton at the top of SmackDown, framing it as Reigns stepping aside so as not to "hog the spotlight" of the first round of the draft given that Reigns has no immediate plans to return to action. 

Reigns' three-plus year reign as Universal Champion ended at night two of WrestleMania 40 earlier this month when he dropped the Undisputed WWE Championship to Cody Rhodes. He has yet to appear on WWE programming since his loss. 

A Bloodline civil war storyline has unfolded in Reigns' absence, with Solo Sikoa seizing control of the group, kicking Jimmy Uso out of The Bloodline, and the addition of Tama Tonga to the faction. 

Our ongoing coverage of night one of the WWE Draft is here. 

An updated list of WWE Draft choices is here.